Momfluencers Sell AI 'Coparents' for $37 as Mothers Seek Relief From 13.5 Extra Weekly Chore Hours
Updated
Updated · WIRED · Jun 8
Momfluencers Sell AI 'Coparents' for $37 as Mothers Seek Relief From 13.5 Extra Weekly Chore Hours
1 articles · Updated · WIRED · Jun 8
Summary
Zurich-based creator Lilian Schmidt turned a viral 2025 TikTok about using ChatGPT as a “coparent” into a $37 custom GPT product after saying the tool solved her 3½-year-old daughter’s bedtime struggle.
That pitch is resonating because mothers still carry most household labor: employed U.S. moms spend 13.5 extra hours a week on chores and 12.5 hours on childcare, while Schmidt says AI helps her stay present and regulated.
A wider crop of “AI mom” influencers now sells prompts, courses and coaching that frame generative AI as a way to delegate meal planning, scheduling and other mental-load tasks that partners often still leave to women.
The trend also exposes tensions around AI: women are more than 20% less likely than men to use generative AI, while critics warn about environmental costs, job losses affecting nearly 15% of workers, and risks to children.
Even some advocates say the tools may streamline drudgery without changing who bears it, leaving the deeper issue intact: household mental load remains treated largely as a women’s problem.
Can AI tools ever truly share the mental load, or just help mothers manage it alone?
If AI threatens women's jobs most, why is it sold as a solution for their 'second shift' at home?
Parenting in the Age of AI: New Solutions, Equity Concerns, and the Future of Family Management
Overview
Parenting often comes with a heavy mental load, especially for mothers, who must constantly plan, organize, and remember countless family details. Traditional supports are not always available when needed, but the rise of AI-powered tools is changing this landscape. These new applications, like BestInterest and Momwise, are designed to streamline repetitive and overwhelming family management tasks, turning them into background processes. By automating planning and reminders, AI tools promise to give parents more time and reduce stress, offering a modern solution to the challenges of managing busy family life.